Counted With the Stars by Connilyn Cossette

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Counted with the Stars tells the story of Kiya.  Kiya is an Egyptian living in the time when the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, just before their exodus.  She has live a privileged life,  but her father has lost almost everything and sells her into slavery to help pay for some of his debts.  Kiya serves Tekurah who does everything she can to humiliate her and belittle her - everything except hit her.  Tekurah's husband (a friend of Kiya's dad) Shefu want to see that she is taken care of.

While serving Tekurah, Kiya meet Shira, a Hebrew slave.  Shira befriends her and as the plagues start happening in Egypt, begins to tell her about Yahweh.  Kiya is intrigued by what she tells her and is terrified by everything that is happening.

During the night of the death of the firstborn, Shefu helps Kiya escape to Goshen to help protect her mother and her older brother Jumo.  She is very protective of her older brother who is disabled.  Kiya goes to her friend Shira's home where most welcome her, except her older brother Eben, who hates all Egyptians.  In the morning they all leave Egypt together.

Through their journey to the Red Sea and beyond Kiya learns more about Yahweh.  She also struggles with the decision to leave Egypt.  Will she continue on with her family or will she go back?  Will she learn to believe and follow Yahweh?  Will her and her family be accepted by the Hebrews, especially by Eben?

Connilyn Cossette did a remarkable job.  I loved reading a Biblical Fiction book about the escape from Egypt through the eyes of the slaves.  It makes you wonder a lot more about that time and what it was like for those that escaped.  What were their thoughts as they were leaving?  What where their thoughts as they say everything happening around them through the plagues happening to Egypt.

This book was a very hard one to put down.  The author does a remarkable job of drawing you in.   As you read about the events as the happen, especially the crossing of the Red Sea, you can see it happening before your eyes.  You feel drawn to the characters and want to learn so much more about them.  I can't wait for the next book in the series!

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.   I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.